Request for Proposals

The City of Tulare Community Development Department, Planning Division, is requesting proposals from qualified consultants for the preparation of the City of Tulare Active Transportation Plan. The objective of this RFP is to select a qualified consultant to enter into an agreement to perform the work described below. A joint venture of firms or a single firm for all or part of the tasks described is acceptable to accomplish the anticipated Scope of Services outlined in Attachment A.

The City of Tulare, California is located in Tulare County. Tulare has an estimated population of 70,693 residents. The City of Tulare Active Transportation Plan will propose comprehensive, citywide strategies to improve circulation and access to bicycle and pedestrian facilities throughout the community. Principle objectives and deliverables include a needs assessment via public outreach and evaluation of technical data, development of a list of projects with associated design concepts, and the creation of a plan for funding and implementation.

The City of Tulare last prepared a Pedestrian and Bicycle Trail Master Plan in 2005. Subsequently, significant growth, development, the adoption of a comprehensive General Plan Update in 2014, and the passing of time have all eroded the value of the 2005 plan. Existing infrastructure features various bicycle and pedestrian improvements, trails, and infrastructure throughout the city with a significant feature including the Santa Fe Trail which provides the most significant bicycle and pedestrian access, allowing residents to traverse the city east to west. As the city continues to grow, the movement of pedestrians, cyclists and vehicular traffic across Tulare is hindered by significant constraints. The city is physically divided by several major rail and automotive corridors, including the Union Pacific freight line State Route (SR)-99, and SR-137 which run north and south and restrict or challenge east / west pedestrian and bicyclist mobility, in addition to SR-137 running east and west through the city. There are also a limited number of safe bicycle and residential routes from residential areas to school sites, and significant gaps exist in existing routes and infrastructure.

Some of the goals for this project include: a system of safe and interconnected vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle transportation infrastructure that offers better city‐wide circulation, with a particular focus on school access; improved access to recreational spaces; improved access to the city's downtown district as well as commercial centers throughout the city; exploring bicycle and pedestrian amenities within the downtown district and commercial areas, such as enhanced street‐ side pedestrian amenities. It is also the city's goal to identify future bicycle and pedestrian amenities to be developed within the city's Urban Development Boundary that will be brought within the city's limits as development occurs.

Interested firms are invited to submit an electronic copy (PDF format) of their proposal to [email protected] and three (3) hard copies of their proposals to the following address:

City of Tulare
Community & Economic Development Department
411 E. Kern Avenue
Tulare, CA 93277
ATTN: Steven Sopp, Principal Planner

Proposals will be accepted until Friday, August 30, 2024, at 5:00 PM (PST).

RFP 25-807 City of Tulare Active Transportation Plan